FoundersFleet is operated by Eight Bit Studios, LLC ("we," "us," or "our"). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data. By using FoundersFleet, you agree to the practices described here.
1. Information We Collect
Information you provide directly
- Account information — name, email address, and password when you create an account or accept an invitation.
- Profile information — founder bio, startup name and description, stage, industry, skills, social media links, and any other information you choose to add to your profile.
- Startup information — details about your startup including name, stage, and team members.
- Documents — files you upload for AI analysis, such as pitch decks, PRDs, or business plans.
- Communications — messages you send to other founders or squads on the platform.
- Join requests — your name, email, and any information submitted when requesting access to the platform.
Information collected automatically
- Usage data — pages visited, features used, mission progress, and other interactions with the platform.
- Analytics — if you consent, we use Google Analytics 4 (via Google Tag Manager) to collect anonymized data about how you use the site, including page views, session duration, and navigation patterns.
- Log data — IP address, browser type, device information, and referring URLs collected automatically by our servers.
2. How We Use Your Information
- To create and manage your account and profile.
- To match you with squads and connect you with other founders.
- To power AI features including Competitive Analysis, Economist AI, Stack Pilot, and document analysis. Your inputs are sent to Anthropic's Claude API for processing.
- To track your Flight Plan and mission progress.
- To send platform notifications, including mission updates and connection requests.
- To send transactional emails (via Resend) such as invitations and password resets.
- To improve the platform based on usage patterns and feedback.
- To comply with legal obligations.
3. Cookies and Analytics
We use cookies and similar technologies to operate the platform and, with your consent, to analyze usage.
- Essential cookies — required to keep you signed in and protect your session. These are always active.
- Analytics cookies — Google Analytics 4, loaded via Google Tag Manager, only if you accept cookies. These help us understand how the platform is used so we can improve it. No personally identifiable information is sent to Google.
You can change your cookie preference at any time by clearing your browser's local storage or contacting us.
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We share data only in the following circumstances:
- With other founders on the platform — your public profile, startup, and squad activity are visible to other FoundersFleet members.
- Service providers — we use third-party services to operate the platform, including:
- Anthropic (Claude API) — AI-powered features
- DigitalOcean — hosting and database infrastructure
- Resend — transactional email delivery
- Voyage AI — semantic search and embeddings
- Google Analytics / Google Tag Manager — usage analytics (consent-gated)
- Legal requirements — if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of our users.
5. Data Retention
We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. If you cancel or your account is closed, your profile and startup remain visible in the directory. Mission progress, documents, and AI outputs are retained for 90 days, after which they may be deleted. You can request immediate deletion at any time.
6. Your Rights
Depending on where you are located, you may have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you.
- Request correction of inaccurate information.
- Request deletion of your account and associated data.
- Opt out of analytics tracking by declining cookies.
- Data portability — request a copy of your data in a portable format.
To exercise any of these rights, email us at foundersfleet@eightbitstudios.com.
7. Security
We use industry-standard security practices including encryption in transit (HTTPS) and at rest. Access to production systems is restricted to authorized personnel. That said, no system is completely secure — please use a strong, unique password and notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.
8. Children's Privacy
FoundersFleet is not intended for anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware that a minor has created an account, we will delete it.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as the platform evolves. When we do, we'll update the "Last updated" date at the top. For material changes, we'll notify you by email or with a notice on the platform. Your continued use of FoundersFleet after any update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
10. Contact
Questions about this policy? Reach us at:
foundersfleet@eightbitstudios.com
Eight Bit Studios, LLC